Meet Our Staff

Sarah Payne first visited Crow Canyon as an archaeology program participant when she was still in high school; being part of the Castle Rock Pueblo excavation set her on the path to her eventual career. After college, she worked as an archaeologist for the Post-Fire Assessment Team at Mesa Verde National Park. A Crow Canyon staff member for more than ten years, Sarah became Director of Cultural Explorations in 2014. She believes that travel can change the way you see the world.

Explorations Coordinators

Explorations coordinators are responsible for trip development, logistics, and the safety and comfort of participants while in the field.

David Boyle (M.A., Adventure Education, Prescott College) joined Crow Canyon as an explorations coordinator in 2014. Before that, he worked with at-risk populations in wilderness therapy programs throughout the United States, including six years in the deserts of Utah and the mountains of Colorado. A believer in the power of place and story, David says that the richest experiences are gained by witnessing the landscape, hearing the archaeological story, and learning from Native American insights and history.

Kate Thompson (M.S., Soil Science, Montana State University) pursued multiple careers in cartography, geoarchaeology, wilderness guiding, and professional photography, then turned to Crow Canyon for new horizons. An explorations coordinator since 2012, she has designed and led many trips through hidden corners of the Southwest. River trips and backcountry hiking are among her favorite outdoor adventures. Internationally, Kate has led Crow Canyon groups to Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Todd Kearns (B.A., Outdoor Education, Prescott College) joined Crow Canyon as an explorations coordinator in 2015. Todd has many years of experience working with and leading groups in backcountry settings. In addition to wilderness guiding and outfitting, he has taught at a community college and run small businesses. Todd came to Crow Canyon after ten years in the renewable energy field. Working with people in the outdoors was never far from his heart, though. He is excited to use his experience to enable travelers to discover what they love about the cultures and environments of the Southwest.

Travel with Us

"My Crow Canyon experiences have given me a living involvement with the history and culture of the Southwest indigenous peoples … and a profound connection with the beauty of their world." Steven, 2015

Contact Us

For more information about Cultural Explorations programs, please contact one of our sales and enrollment specialists:

Our Mission

The mission of the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is to empower present and future generations by making the human past accessible and relevant through archaeological research, experiential education, and American Indian knowledge.